Where do you buy your metal stock?

[dragoneggs]

My LWS charges a buck a cut. I brought in a piece of railroad tie one day to make a poor man's anvil and they charged me double! 2 whole bucks... the nerve. :laughing:

 

[duramaxsky]

My LWS charges a buck a cut. I brought in a piece of railroad tie one day to make a poor man's anvil and they charged me double! 2 whole bucks... the nerve. :laughing:

I think you mean RR track. Do they charge you to cut the pieces they sell you? That's just wrong.

 

[4570Man]

I think you mean RR track. Do they charge you to cut the pieces they sell you? That's just wrong.

How is it wrong? They sold you steel not the labor and overhead to cut it. They’re probably losing money to cut it at $1 anyway.

 

[dragoneggs]

I think you mean RR track. Do they charge you to cut the pieces they sell you? That's just wrong.

Oops... track! If I buy 20ft but want it cut in half they charge. If I buy 10ft they don't charge. Basically additional cuts are $1.

 

[two_bit_score]

I'm wondering where folks typically get their stock metal pieces from for projects? In the past I've purchased small pieces from Menards or Home Depot and I have a machine shop not too far away that sells most common stuff (angle, flat, pipe, etc.). I either buy full lengths or sometimes they have cuts from projects they've done. They can cut stuff for me but obviously that's more expensive. They sell the steel by weight. It's not a bad option but they have limited hours and are not open Saturdays or after 5pm so it makes it tough to get there for me.

I looked into some online sales places but, as expected, freight costs are gigantic for the small quantities I'd need.

Is there some other type of business that tends to stock and sell standard types of steel that I should be looking for?

Thanks,
Rob

Look for a pipe and steel supply like this: Lehman's Pipe and Steel : Home


TBS

 

[Spiros]

Metal Supply Company here in Memphis, TN.

 

[duramaxsky]

Oops... track! If I buy 20ft but want it cut in half they charge. If I buy 10ft they don't charge. Basically additional cuts are $1.

OK that is how I was thinking it would work. I guess I read it wrong.

 

[Big Barn]

Good catch. I thought they had a nominal charge for it but free is better. I think they may have gotten concerned with people cutting steel in the parking lot and decided this might be a wise move. They guarantee no accuracy on the cut in half service, IIRC.

Smart move on their part. Good business sense and PR at the same time.

 

[ArlyA]

Oops... track! If I buy 20ft but want it cut in half they charge. If I buy 10ft they don't charge. Basically additional cuts are $1.

I'd guess you purchased rail, not track... Did you catch the weight of that rail? Should say 60 to 140 on its side.

 

[flyerdan]

Fortunately I have Cherry City Metals close by, they not only buy scrap but sort out the good stuff and sell it for a fraction of new. I needed a chunk of small expanded metal for a project a few years ago, got a piece that was just a tad larger than I required for a couple bucks.